4 Tips for Choosing Steel Products from the Philippines

What are some tips for choosing steel products from the Philippines?

Familiarize yourself with the different types of steel

Identify the items you need with the corresponding specifications

Keep opinions of other people in mind and check for feedback

Know your suppliers

The steel products in the Philippines have greatly contributed to the urbanization of the country over the years, helping modernize its infrastructures on a national level. New projects are being developed everyday—and the rate at which the infrastructure is growing is at a steady but sure pace, and steel is one of the central materials in making it all possible. After all, it is one of the primary pillars of nation building.

With the abundance of steel products available on the market, consumers have practically an infinite supply for projects or just for everyday items. However, there are just as much steel suppliers to choose from, and different kinds and grades of steel. In buying steel products, you must be certain that you are knowledgeable enough about steel.

Choosing the right steel products doesn’t have to be a difficult task. There are, after all, a number of trusted steel suppliers out there, who can provide you with exactly what you need, or ensure that you get what you need. To make the process even easier, here are some tips for choosing the right steel products from the Philippines.

Familiarize Yourself with the Different Types of Steel

Steel is known as a versatile material which can be used for a large variety of purposes, but there are certain types of steel for specific uses. Make sure that the steel products you choose are the right type for the purpose you have in mind.

Carbon Steels

Carbon steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, and is further subdivided into four kinds: low carbon steel, medium carbon steel, high carbon steel, and cast iron. Carbon is essential in making the material harder, but the more amounts of carbon there is, the more brittle the material becomes.

Low carbon steel uses the lowest amount of carbon among the three, and is used mainly in fences, railings, gates, lamp posts, and other decorative products.

Medium carbon steel, or mild carbon steel, is the most commonly used kind of carbon steel. It is very strong, and is used in structures such as buildings and bridges. Other applications of medium carbon steel include automobile components and appliances like refrigerators.

High carbon steel has even more carbon content and is thus very hard, but is more brittle than its low and medium counterparts. It is mainly used to make wires.

Cast iron has the most amounts of carbon—it has a low melting point, and is used in the making of pots.

Alloy Steels

Alloy steels are a type of steel which consists of iron and small amounts of one or more other metals. Common metals found in alloy steels include aluminum, copper, lead, and manganese. Some uses of alloy steels are pipes, bearings, heating components in toasters and electric heaters, and bicycle frames.

Stainless Steels

Stainless steel is a steel that contains at least 10% of chromium, and is extremely resistant to rust. Because of this property and because of the ease to sterilize stainless steel products, it is commonly used in kitchen accessories, and medical and surgical tools.

Tool Steels

Tool steels, as the name implies, are used in tools such as screws, wrenches, and drills. There are four major alloys found in tool steel: cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium. Tool steels are extremely durable and resistant to heat, which makes them excellent for shaping other materials.

Identify the Items You Need

Once you have become familiar with the different types and compositions of steel, it’s time to make a list of the items you need.

Steel suppliers provide their customers with the right type of steel products; that is, depending on their purpose, but it is still possible that the composition of their steel products is wrong. Take, for example, a stainless steel with less than 10% of chromium—it still is stainless steel by definition, but it won’t be as resistant to corrosion as it is supposed to be.

Knowing the right composition of the steel products you need is important. After all, steel can sometimes be dangerous, especially when used for the wrong purposes.

Keep Opinions of Other People in Mind

The final part of the process of choosing steel products is selecting a steel supplier to buy from. This should be a calculated decision. You must make sure that the steel supplier you are buying from uses the best materials, promotes consistent in quality across all their products, and offers excellent after sales support.

That said, you should try to get feedback from other people who may have done business with the steel suppliers you are considering. This will give you a general idea of how reliable the particular steel supplier is, and ultimately aid you in making a final decision.

Know your Suppliers

Lastly, you should know your suppliers. Make sure that you do your research and acquire as much information as you can about them, and that includes ensuring that the suppliers are established in their industry.

As mentioned earlier, don’t underestimate the power of feedback and customer reviews. You can easily scour for these from the internet or by personally asking the people you know.

Key Takeaway

There is an endless number of benefits that steel products can provide. They are durable and versatile, and has an application in almost every situation. However, it is important to note that when choosing steel products, you must put important factors such as steel composition, specifications, and build quality, and the reliability of suppliers in consideration. Any steel supplier can provide you with the materials you need, but only a handful can provide you with top-grade steel products and services.

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Regan Industrial Sales, Inc. (RISI) was established on January 1968 at Dagupan St. in Tondo Manila. Back then there were only 10 employees selling valves, wire rope devices, and other structural steel products. Incorporated in 1980, Regan Industrial Sales Inc. moved to its new location at #5 Harmony St. Grace Village, Quezon City. Over the years, Regan Industrial Sales Incorporated has been supplying various steel plates, sections, pipes and tubing, bars and rods across a multi-sectoral market in the country.